Feeding mechanism for gas-producers, furnaces, &amp;c.



PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907;

;r. A. WALDBURGER. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUGBRS, FURNACES, 8w.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.12.1906.

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No. 868,147, PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907. J. A. WALDBURGER.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUCERS, FURNACES, &o. APPLIOATION'IILEDNOV.12,1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. WALDBURGER, OF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO FORTERMILLER ENGINEERING 00., OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYL- VANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed November 12,1906. Serial No. 343,082.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. WALDBURGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at McKeesport, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFeeding Mechanism for Gas-Producers, Furnaces, &c., of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawing.

My invention refers to improvements in feeding mechanism for gasproducers, furnaces, etc. and it has for its object to charge quantitiesof fuel or other material into the furnace chamber from time to timeevenly as to distribute the material over the surface of the charge.

With the ordinary bell and hopper construction the charge is distributedperipherally from the edge of the bell and lodges in the form of anannular ridge immediately within the walls of the furnace leaving aninverted conical cavity in the center.

My invention has in view to correct such an unequal distribution and toprovide means which will insure the falling of the charge at the outsideand center portions of the interior space, within control or regulationof the operator.

The invention consists generally in the combination with a receivinghopper, of a two-part bell arranged to be lowered as an entirety todistribute the charge to the outside, or whereby its inner portion maybe lowered within its outer portion, said outer portion having interiorsloping walls, to deflect the charge toward the center.

Referring to the drawings;-Figure l. is a vertical sectional view of theupper portion of a gas producer or other similar structure taken on theline 1. 1. of Fig. 47 Fig. 2. is a similar view showing the entiretwo-part bell lowered. Fig. 3. is a similar view showing the innerportion of the bell lowered. Fig. 4. is a plan view of the apparatustaken on the line IV. IV. of Fig. 1.

In the drawings 2 represents the producer or furnace structure which isusually cylindrical in form and is closed at its upper portion with aframe or coping plate 3 upon the upper portion of which is mounted thehopper 4 adapted to receive the charge of fuel or other material fromany superimposed structure or vessel. The bottom of said hopper 4empties, as usual, into the upper portion of the furnace or producerchamber, and is closed by my improved two-part bell construction,comprising the main outer bell 5 the sides of which slope outwardly andmake a sealing contact with the lower edges of hopper 4, and also therelatively movable inner coping section 6, both of said portions beingmovable vertically with relation to the hopper 4. The

outer bell 5 is suspended by links 7, '7, from the inner end of lever 8While the inner bell 6 is similarly supported by link 9 from the innerend of lever 10, both of said levers being mounted for independentoperation upon a supporting shaft 11 and preferably provided withcounterweights at their outer ends as will be readily understood. Thelower peripheral edge of bell 6 terminates in a flange 12, preferablyoff-set below the general conical outer surface of the bell, said flangebeing adapted to interfit underneath the upper terminal peripheral edge13 of the outer bell 5 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. By this construction,when both bells v are assembled as shown in said figure, they constitutea practically single bell having a continuous smooth outer surface, theupper bell being capable of being lowered independent of bell 5 butnecessarily resulting in lowering of the upper bell 6 when hell 5 islowered. Also, when upper section 6 is raised it necessarily raiseslower section 5, so that the effect of the counterweights of lovers 8and 10 is to normally maintain the two-part bell in sealing position asshown in Fig. I. In operation, when it is desired to empty the charge ofhopper 4 into the furnace chamber and to distribute the contents aroundthe outer interior, the entire bell is lowered as shown in Fig. 2, theeffect being substantially the same as in the case of a solid singlebell. When however, it is desired to distribute the contents toward thecenter the upper bell section 6 is lowered independently of the mainhell 5, which will remain in its initial position, as shown in Fig. 3and the contents of hopper 4 will pass through the opening of the upperportion of the main bell and downwardly over the peripheral edge of hell6.

For the purpose of positively deflecting the charge inwardly toward thecenter, main bell 5 is provided with an inwardly and downwardlyextending flange or apron 14 which will arrest the charge and deflect itinwardly toward the center as clearly indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3.

Various other changes or modifications may be made by the skilledmechanic, but all such are to be considered as within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a furnace or producer and a superposed hopperopening thereinto, of an outer bell section adapted to seat underneathsaid hopper and provided with a central opening and an inwardlyextending apron, a relatively movable inner bell section adapted foradjustment independent of said outer bell section, a rock shaftjournaled in the side of the hopper, operating levers for the outer bellsection secured to said shaft, and an operating lever for the inner bellsection journaled upon said shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a furnace or producer and a superposed hopperopeningthereinto. of an outer bell bell section journaled upon saidshaft, substantially as set 10 forth. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. WALDBURGER.

Witnesses CHAS. S. Lnrnny, C. M. CLARKE.

